CHC UK redundancies/strike action/FSP

[roundwego]

Extract from BBC website (BBC NEWS | Scotland | North East/N Isles | Helicopter firm jobs being lost (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/7894163.stm))

Up to 60 jobs are set to go at an Aberdeen helicopter maintenance firm.

Heli-One, a subsidiary of CHC Helicopter Corporation, has been hit by an "industry-wide downturn in activity".

The company said it regretted that between 50 and 60 jobs would be affected.

The news comes just days after job warnings from industry body Oil and Gas UK and the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce oil and gas survey.

CHC and Heli-one said in a statement: "CHC can confirm that its repair and overhaul division Heli-One commenced a consultation process over proposed redundancies at its base maintenance facility in Aberdeen.

"CHC has instigated the process in response to the industry-wide downturn in activity. The proposed redundancies, involving between 50 and 60 members of staff, would reduce personnel levels at the base to the level required for forecast future activity.

"CHC very much regrets having to take this measure but it is unavoidable in the present economic climate. The company will now liaise closely with union representatives during the consultation period."

The company said it planned to continue to employ about 25 people to provide logistics and design support.

Pilots next?

[EESDL]

every cloud has a silver lining.......
Hopefully improve availability of 'onshore' supply of engineers for corporate machines....

[NorthSeaTiger]

How has the flying arm of CHC been affected in ABZ ? Will these engineers be taken on by the Line or will they go to Heli-One in Norway ?

[Limpopo]

I heard secondhand at the weekend that contract pilots (i.e. not full time pilots) in Aberdeen were being told that their services were no longer required.

[SASless]

Heli-One closing in March I hear....along with the operation in Hurst, Texas.

That is eighty employees in Aberdeen and one hundred and ten employees in Hurst to be looking for work.

[dieseldo]

If they are retaining only support staff then where is CHC Scotias heavy maintenance going to be done?Sounds like British jobs being exported to Norway.

[DOUBLE BOGEY]

Every time there is a slight downturn who do they exterminate...the only employees capable of generating real income (Pilots and Engineers). Just for once I would like to see a NS Company make a few shiny arses take it in the back passage instead of the bread-winners.

I can confirm that CHC ABZ are not renewing the monthly contracts for the Contractors on one of the fleets at the moment. Some really good (and I hope they forgive me for saying so - V. SENIOR) gentlemen available for work.

Anybody needing v. qualified v. experienced offshore drivers get in touch with CHC ABZ (Or PM me).

[MyTarget]

Is there to be anymore slicing and dicing??????:eek: By the New owners.

[Horror box]

This is an absolute bloody disgrace, and appalling way of doing business for all except a few higher level management. This is short term money savings, which is really only going to divert costs to somewhere else. In the short they will save some money on paper in wages. However the redundancy settlement payments will not be cheap if the union does its job properly, and chances are in a years time they will need more engineers again, and start re-hiring and re-training, therefore more cost than they saved. I think we have been here before in the not too distant past. Are lessons really never learnt? Would it not be better to offer to hold people on reduced time until things pick up? Smacks of another FR attempt to boost short term profit margins on paper prior to a quick sell off.
My deepest sympathies to those being royally shafted.

[coalface]

CHC and Heli-one in Europe has a much bigger Norwegian influence at engineering management level so it goes without saying that the redundancies will be in the UK and not Norway. It means that the maintenance work which would have been done in the UK will now be shipped over to Norway even although their costs are higher.

The UK based engineers working for CHC should be considering industrial action in support of their colleagues in Heli-one. CHC know that these redundancies would not be accepted in Norway so they are taking the easy way out by sacking UK workers.

The CHC flying operation in the UK is already very poorly supported by Heli-one due to lack of spares etc and it is going to get worse if this is allowed to go ahead as even more spares are moved from UK to Norway.

[NorthSeaTiger]

I was just going to ask how many Norwegians would be facing the boot, as I thought get rid of the easy UK boys and make sure the Norwegians are ok.

[ScotiaQ]

Coalface is quite right, the heavy maintenance work will go to Norway or maybe even Canada, as it has in the past, Boundary Bay has to do something. CHC Scotia is one of the biggest cash generators in the Group but as already has been said, UK workers are easier to get rid of than Norwegian. It has been ever thus since the merger back in 1999.

Some of the Heli-One UK Engineers will readily get work in Stavanger, as Contractors, adding more costs for CHC. But we can't have "Social Dumping" in Norway, can we ?

[malabo]

Are the sackings just in Scotia or elsewhere in the CHC system too. SASless mentions H1 in Hurst Texas. Anything in den Helder or the Canadian operations - or whatever they call Vancouver now.

[NorthSeaTiger]

These sackings/redundancies have nothing to do with CHC Scotia, Heli-One ABZ is a seperate company. But will the axe be swinging at Scotia as well, I have heard rumours of contract engineers/pilots already been shown the door ?

[T4 Risen]

Same knee jerk reaction we got last time there was a down turn in work, 18 months down the line when the oil companies are crying out for machines and flights because they have spooled up the drilling programme there will be a huge shortage. The oil companies complain because they do not seem to realise how long it take to train up engineers and pilots. We are already seeing age balloons that are going to burst because of similar decisions made over the decades.

good luck to all those affected......

[Mark Nine]

My advice to any staff facing redundancy would be to contact Eurocopter UK. Rumour has it that they are desperately short of Engineers, yet still have expansion plans for the area.

[coalface]

North Sea Tiger said;
These sackings/redundancies have nothing to do with CHC Scotia, Heli-One ABZ is a seperate company

It's got everything to do with CHC Scotia because CHC Scotia is Heli-one (Aberdeen)'s only customer. There can only be one reason for lack of maintenance work and that is a downturn in the flying activities.

[Hompy]

I feel for anybody facing redundancy at the moment and it is sad that the short term knee jerk reaction always prevails. Especially when, as has already been said, it's the people who do the core work that get the boot.

However, I have worked alongside many contractors on a higher monthly wage because they are a contractor and because they want to remain so. Some have turned down permanent contracts because of the better flat rate they get as a contractor and because of the 'choice' this gives them to do what they will with their money. In the helicopter world it is often the case that these contract workers are also those who opt out of joining a union. This combination makes it too easy for large companies to 'shed costs' as they put it and get rid of people quickly. That is the nature of contract work. Hopefully when we come out of this economic dip we are in, people who took a hit as a contractor will seek permanent contracts and union membership, which will only strengthen our industry in the long term.

Hompy

[Brilliant Stuff]

ECUK do need extra engineers but as of a month ago they are on a hire-freeze and in the mean time they rely heavily on the worker bees good will to work every hour god sends them if it wasn't for them Oxford would have folded a long time ago.

[NorthSeaTiger]

"It's got everything to do with CHC Scotia because CHC Scotia is Heli-one (Aberdeen)'s only customer. There can only be one reason for lack of maintenance work and that is a downturn in the flying activities."

Not true, they have had several Norwegian machines and aircraft bound for different locations in there recently so to say CHC Scotia is there only customer is wrong , of there 2-3 lines only 1 was Scotia. Also it will be Heli-one who decided to close down ABZ not CHC Scotia, at the end of the day Scotia will have a/c requiring G-Checks etc, so where are they going to go ? My Moneys on Heli-One Stavangar .

[Mark Nine]

Brilliant Stuff said;
"they rely heavily on the worker bees good will to work every hour god sends them if it wasn't for them Oxford would have folded a long time ago".
I've heard this said elsewhere. Why are the engineers prepared to put up with it? Is ECUK pay so low that engineers need all the extra overtime?

[DeltaFree]

Have heard this evening CHC Scotia are facing a productivity review. Seems to be targeted at the operational side. As stated previously, this is where money is made.
Surely a proper review will assess what operational assets are required (Helo/Engineer/Pilot numbers), then move up a level to supervisory staff, then find the minimum number of middle managers needed and then consider the higher managements levels.
Or on the other hand you could create more management positions to oversee a reduction in cash generating assets.
How will CHC do it? Answers on a postcard please.

[unstable load]

If the CHC group wants to save money they should take a long hard look at the monster they created in the form of Heli-One.

Having them as our ONLY supplier worldwide was a questionable idea but having them also as a third party vendor robs the bases of spares that should be on the shelves instead of being sold for much needed cash.

[Helioil]

:confused:Deltafree:

Have heard this evening CHC Scotia are facing a productivity review. Seems to be targeted at the operational side. As stated previously, this is where money is made.

Chc Helikopter Service As - 51941000 - Stavanger Lufthavn (http://www.bedriftsdatabasen.no/FirmaInfo.aspx?qType=FirmaSok&custid=03211121&fsok1=&fsok2=&c=Chc_Helikopter_Service_As)



Heli-One (norway) As - 51941400 - Stavanger Lufthavn (http://www.bedriftsdatabasen.no/FirmaInfo.aspx?qType=FirmaSok&custid=03791961&fsok1=&fsok2=&c=Heli-One_(norway)_As)



Here is the result from Norway atleast, all shown in Norwegian krone:

CHC Helikopter Service AS

Result 2006 - 63561000
2007 - 88752000
2008 - 50567000

Heli-One Norway AS

Result 2006 + 145184000
2007 + 142092000
2008 Not ready



So......... where is the money made???????????

[helimutt]

I would imagine that they will increase management numbers :confused: to look at how they can cut pilot and engineer numbers, :* in turn saving the required £xxmillion immediately and the £xxxmillion over the next year.

It's all very well saying lets have a immediate salary freeze, but to expand management positions just doesn't make sense.

Let's hope people stay employed but on a fair basis.

[DeltaFree]

Dear HeliOil,
Not sure what your point is! The money is made by "Helos/Engineers/Pilots", as I suggested, whether it be Scotland, England, Norway, Denmark or anywhere else in the world these are the assets that do the work! Any review should be looking at the costs of support/management.
Not sure why you quote HeliOne and HS. Though Helione money is often made at huge expense to the aircrsft operator. CHC Scotia at least are tied in to very expensive support from HeliOne, and have ac AOG more often than is economically sensible. Scotia, HS and HeliOne are all part of the same thing. If they want to exchange money at ridiculous rates for tax benefits that is fine. But when operations suffer due to lack of spares and customers are let down there can be no excuse. When CHC lose contracts and have to make cut backs everybody loses.

[northseaspray]

http://www.proff.no/proff/search/keyFigures.c?freeText=heli+one+leasing&bc=-2&c=&org=819569762

Proff™ firmasøk og bransjesøk - Regnskapstall for norske bedrifter (http://www.proff.no/proff/search/keyFigures.c?freeText=Chc+Helikopter+Service+AS&bc=-2&c=&org=974414228)







Proff™ firmasøk og bransjesøk - Regnskapstall for norske bedrifter (http://www.proff.no/proff/search/keyFigures.c?freeText=heli+one&bc=-2&c=&org=982715040)

[Helioil]

Hi Northseespray

Where do the leasing part og Heli-one have there inncome from. As far as I can see there is only two aircrafts on the Norwegian registry that is owned by Heli-One Leasing ???????

All the new machines in the group are laesed from others, and i guess the 61`s are out of the system????

[Blackhawk9]

Since the one stop shop of Heli-one has been on the seen it should be ...Heli-none...
No spares, No support ,No idea.
HSI, EC or Bell may have the part on the shelf but Heli-none won't have and can't seem to get it for you!!

[northseaspray]

"Where do the leasing part og Heli-one have there inncome from. As far as I can see there is only two aircrafts on the Norwegian registry that is owned by Heli-One Leasing ???????"


Well, try to count all the L2's and S-92's in this lovely picture.....

Airport Operations (http://www.bermudaairport.com/)

[MyTarget]

Just back to the question in hand, are the perm guys at the bases UK CHC safe?

[Rockape403]

I think this situation may also have something to do with funding through CHC which is owned by a US Investement bank which is on it's knees. I think they have to strip costs and quickly.

Heard some airframes going to Australia.......?

[Helioil]

Northseespray
There is a lot of 92`s and L2`s. As far as I can see they are not ovned by Heli-One but of several banks and other financial institutions.
So the question remains the same: where are the A/C that creates the money in Heli-One?????

[The Governor]

Rockape403

I think this situation may also have something to do with funding through CHC which is owned by a US Investement bank which is on it's knees

First Reserve is a private equity firm that specialises in an energy industry portfolio. It is not an investment bank and as it is a private equity firm you are unlikely to know if it is on it's knees or not. If it is trying to protect (rather than increase in the current climate) the investments of it's members, which is what it exists to do, it will no doubt be seeking to cut costs.

[unstable load]

CHC Global Ops, CHC Scotia, Australia et al all are tied into lease agreements with Heli One for the operational aircraft. H1 in turn owns some and leases others in from the banks/companies that own them.

Then the operators (CHC) are tied into an exclusive support contract with H1 for spares backup, which is where the hassle to the operating groups comes in because H1 also has 3rd party contracts with various companies to supply spares and overhaul and the CHC operations seem to be getting shortchanged for spares at the expense of the 3rd party customenrs who bring in the cash.

Within the CHC/H1 system it's all a paperwork exercise that the beancounters squabble over among themselves.

[DeltaFree]

Seems Bond have found a novel way of reducing aircraft numbers. Fortunately customer numbers have not been reduced, and from my point of view, luckily the pilots numbers remain the same. I wonder if the Bean Counters share my opinion. Don't tell CHC that Bond are trialling this system.

[swashman]

The buggers at First Reserve have no idea what they are doing.
15 technical positions made redundant as of Monday 16th Feb.
Not looking good, as rumour has it more to come.
Pretty soon Heli-One will become Heli-None.

[helimutt]

I'm not sure what's happening here but a number of my posts just disappear for no apparent reason.

Mods, if you remove posts, any chance of sending a PM to explain why or what you disagree with?

I posted that CHC now looking for voluntary redundancies. Uk and Ireland.

Is that out of bounds?

[Droopystop]

This sounds to me as if the "new" owners have sat and watched and are now taking a knife to surgically remove the "deadwood". Lucky for them the time coincides with an economic downturn, so they can blame it on that rather than simple brutal business.

There are few companies who are run by people who have an intuitive feel for the industry, just a gut feel on numbers and how they affect their bonuses.

[detgnome]

L1 and L2 contract pilots have/are gone/going, although the news of voluntary redundancies is news. That's about 14 pilots less so far, any ideas how many more they are looking for?

[Senior Pilot]

I'm not sure what's happening here but a number of my posts just disappear for no apparent reason.

Mods, if you remove posts, any chance of sending a PM to explain why or what you disagree with?

I posted that CHC now looking for voluntary redundancies. Uk and Ireland.

Is that out of bounds?

I've checked the records for this thread, and no posts whatsoever have been edited nor deleted by moderators. I have no idea to what you are referring! Your only other post on this thread is post #25 (http://www.pprune.org/4730501-post25.html), which is still there.

And we don't send pm's about post edits anyway, so don't expect one :=

:ooh:

[Big Tudor]

detgnome
Nope. The contractors on the L2 are still there. The L contractors have been told they are finishing. 5 not 14 though. Sorry to spoil things with facts. :rolleyes:

[detgnome]

Big Tudor

Care to comment on Helimutt's 'voluntary redundancy' post?

[Big Tudor]

Haven't heard anything. But then again I ain't exactly high up the food chain! :\

[vee_why]

CHC Europe issued notice today for UK and Ireland based staff asking for volunteers to take voluntary redundancy. No numbers mentioned.

Nothing yet mentioned for staff based in the Netherlands, Denmark or Norway.

[sanddancer]

You've got to love CHC (mis)managements chutzpah - employ extra managers to decide how many pilots/engineers they can get rid of?!

[jcheeverloophole]

Quote

CHC Europe issued notice today for UK and Ireland based staff asking for volunteers to take voluntary redundancy. No numbers mentioned.

Nothing yet mentioned for staff based in the Netherlands, Denmark or Norway.

It may not be as easy to carry out in those other countries because of employment law differences - good old UK workforce straight onto the chopping block first !!:(. All volunteers one pace forward ................
No doubt the other countries will be dealing with the situation in a similar manner ? anybody not in CHC UK/Ireland care to comment or are they
unaware/un-affected at this point ??? :{

[unstable load]

sanddancer, I think you have it backwards. Fire some engineers and pilots so you can afford the new titles.

[swashman]

It may not be as easy to carry out in those other countries because of employment law differences - good old UK workforce straight onto the chopping block first !!http://static.pprune.org/images/smilies/sowee.gif. All volunteers one pace forward ................
No doubt the other countries will be dealing with the situation in a similar manner ? anybody not in CHC UK/Ireland care to comment or are they
unaware/un-affected at this point ???



Yeah I'll comment from Vancouver, Canada
4 of the guys let go probably had 100 (being conservative) years experience between them.

I feel for my UK brothers. But its the same here in Canada.
All of the guys let go, were basically walked to the door monday morning and told to leave the building.

Their e-mails and ph.# were immediately cancelled.

I have never seen anything as brutal as this.

Seems like all the new hire Norwegians are safe though. Not one Norwegian let go, only the canadians.

Sad times ahead as morale in the Boundary Bay facility is at an all time low.

[MyTarget]

Apart from CHC Scotia have any other European bases been affected, have they asked for volunteer’s to take redundancy?:{

[jcheeverloophole]

Swashman , sorry to hear the news from Boundary Bay.

Lack of info forthcoming from across the North Sea with regard to this thread could intimate that it's a targeted campaign at this stage:mad: or other divisions are behind the drag curve implementing requirements from the top floor !

[Dauphin N5]

Nothing heard in DH. But heard from my friends in Cameroon that they lost a contract for one N3, affecting 6 pilots...

[unstable load]

Seems like all the new hire Norwegians are safe though. Not one Norwegian let go, only the canadians.



Anybody care to hazard a guess why no Norwegians??

[jcheeverloophole]

Dauphin N5 - thanks for the update

Unstable Load -

Is that CHC Norway (Helikopter Service A/S) you are talking about , I am lead to believe that a heart it has always been and will be regarded by it's loyal troops as HS , may be the troops or management have more clout in this situation - CHC Europe HQ moving to Norway perhaps ? wasn't it a
toss up between Scotland and Norway a few years ago :confused:

[MyTarget]

Anybody care to hazard a guess why no Norwegians??


Well they are lucky, they have a strong union! Plus alot of contracts.

[swashman]

Anybody care to hazard a guess why no Norwegians??

Our old VP of H1 Delta BC moved over to CHC Global in Richmond BC.

His position filled with ------pause------ you guessed it a N_ _ _ _ _ _ _n

Willing to wager all further layoffs will be us Canadians.

[swashman]

Seems we may need a bigger H1 facility than the new 275,000 sq. ft. we just built in Delta.

We've already had 5 new S76's parked for the better part of 5 months in the dynamic components workshop.

Now we have a Super Puma next to them.

Thats in addition to the countless S61's rotting away outside.

Who else can confirm how many other CHC a/c are parked?

[helimutt]

There's a 365 Humberside which hasn't gone anywhere for a while since G check in Canada! Believe rumour of it being sent to EC to be converted to N3??

[unstable load]

Thanks swashman for filling in the gaps!

[The elephant]

Most that I know became contractors because they had to. Attempts at being re-employed with the employer failed so they are contracting because they have to. Sure the pay rate was quite good but they had no pension rights, security of employment or any other benefits. Also, the pay rate stayed static despite increases in tax, costs etc.over several years. Also no severance pay so some will be hurt badly. Getting rid of them constitutes a great waste of experience. When will the employer learn?

[ScotiaQ]

There are unused aircraft lying around all over the UK.

There is a 365N2 being stored in Heli-One UK, along with a 332L, which is the converted ERA machine (S/No. 2058). It has been modified, at great expense over the last 3 years and still doesn't have anywhere to go.

I suspect that the ex Danish 332s are probably surplus to requirements too.

There is also an S76A+ lying at North Denes which hasn't flown for about 2 years. Again expensive modifications were carried out eg external liferaft but still she sits in the hangar.

Plus what has been mentioned earlier.

Some time ago someone told me that an aircraft on the ground cost in the region of $79,000 per month. Lot of money lying around if true !!

[Drayman]

ScotiaQ.
Try doing some research before posting.2058 Now has an Export C of A and is leaving ABZ for Australia this week

[unstable load]

janders,

2 more A++'s en route to your storage facility to tax the sales folks soon.
If they can't sell anything maybe they should be first in line to get culled??
How are the guys holding out there?

[SpareParts]

Unstable

Where are these A++'s coming from? I've also heard of two Nigeria machines on their way as well.

Apparently heli-one just sold two of the A models that were collecting dust. But I won't believe it until they are gone. Maybe the sales dept knows they should have been on the chopping block and not engineers

[jcheeverloophole]

Sounds like H1 is in the s(crap) helicopter business. Who in this day and age is going to purchase or operate these old birds. Customers want new all singing and dancing machines these days - some poor forward planning going on it sounds like with regard fleet replacement - you wont get work if the aircraft dont fit the requirements - break em for spares or flog them on ebay :confused:

[MyTarget]

Any more doom and gloom?:\

[killabeez]

>>>NOPE<<< :p

[SASless]

I am being led to believe the CHC Most Senior Management are planning to send aircraft to a central hangar in Vancouver for maintenance. First they have to build this new hangar then they will find some cheap, fast, easy way to move the aircraft to (and from) this new centralized state of the art facility.

Is my leg being pulled by someone with a very good sense of humour or am I thinking correctly any such idea really is a joke?

[NorthSeaTiger]

For the ABZ machines just how much will it cost to send a Puma to Canada and back rather than tow it across the airfield ? Money Saving ?

NST

[MyTarget]

You must have been at Sundays meeting then!

[[email protected]]

Is it true what I hear that the shift roster at Stornoway is being altered so that crews can't live away form the island?

[coning angel]

Mr Crab, you have no idea. It gets worse!

Management? CHC? In the same sentence?

[MyTarget]

Is it true what I hear that the shift roster at Stornoway is being altered so that crews can't live away form the island?


oh dear!:uhoh:

[detgnome]

Possibly. Much wailing and gnashing of teeth at present and ongoing 'negotiations'.

[rotor-rooter]

I hear the Norwegians settled for a 0% increase after attempting to negotiate a 20% increase over 3 years!:eek:

Reality bites.

[northseaspray]

I hear the Norwegians settled for a 0% increase after attempting to negotiate a 20% increase over 3 years!http://static.pprune.org/images/smilies/eek.gif

Reality bites.


All wrong. The pilots have a legallly binding CLA that expires in 2011, with a yearly pay increase. Slightly less than 20% though.

Wonder why someone want's you to believe otherwise....?

[swashman]

The state of the art facility is already built at Delta BC Canada.
But from the sounds of it, no machines are on their way for any heavy Maintenance.
In fact looks like we are facing round two of the lay-offs.

[Brom]

I don't think there will be an uproar, more likely a riot.
To be honest, I've quite expected this to happen to the FSP, it was only a matter of time.
However, if it is true, and nothing would surprise me with the present (mis)management, then Monday night's pilot meeting should be very interesting to say the least.

[outhouse]

Hi all, on the 11th July 2008 I started a thread CHC Scotia Pension Scheme News letter (http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/334621-chc-scotia-pension-scheme-news-letter.html) regarding the agreement between CHC and the pension trustees over shortfall and the period that this Deficiency was to be addressed. If what has been posted regarding the continuing scheme and the changes inferred, the question must be asked what the present state of the fund is and are these Deficiencies’ being made up as per the agreement.

Is this a way that the instructions from the FRC to make immediate savings of I understand a minimum of 20 mill this year on costs.
I hope slip and turn as the last poster on the thread will allow be to copy his final comment.

Methinks outhouse that you weren't getting even the slightest bit paranoid in your old age but that your wisdom and eyesight continueth to fail you not

:}

[detgnome]

I think that you will find that given the current situation it is a more N American attitude than British.

[T4 Risen]

Has there been any movement by management about the the equal time roster in Aberdeen?

[332mistress]

I believe management are going have every weekend off - oh and public holidays and have some leave when they want it. No working Xmas or New Year and definately not in the office at 0600 or past 1730:ugh:

332M

[bombiter]

TorqueStripe, thanks for your support.:ok:
Taking care of those red, white and blue birds is much more fun, but at the moment we have no other option left; they p.....d us of so badly!:yuk:

[chinook<NL>]

No flights today from Den helder.

[Dauphin N5]

Day off........ Great!

[Demolition man]

Very sad day because the company states that it is suffering of a severe deteriorization in the oil and gas industry, compelling them to cease any and all cost increases.The reality is different. The American investment company "First Reserve"owner of the Canadian Helicopter Company since end 2008, is performing a sordid cash improvement programme.There is a crisis manager appointed and is under instructions to cut European flight operations by 20 million pounds.Cutbacks should lead to a higher return on investment for First Reserve.The exellent result of the Dutch operations and local circumstances are by and large ignored. In a time when bonuses have to be repaid and companies are reliant on goverment support to stay in business, First Reserve merrily continues its profit maximization, this is a flagrant abuse of circumstances, even though the number of CHC offshore flights for the North Sea has been under pressure somewhat, there isn't an economically urgent situation for the helicopter business in Holland.

[John Galt]

Saw this in today's FT.

Crisis Hits North Sea Oil Search


By Carola Hoyos
Financial Times
Monday, April 13, 2009
The remaining lifespan of the UK’s North Sea oil and gas production risks being halved as the economic crisis has prompted a plunge in exploration in one of the western world’s most important deposits, the industry has warned.

The number of exploration wells being drilled in the North Sea has collapsed by 78 per cent in the first quarter of 2009 compared with the same period last year, according to the most recent industry data from Deloitte, the accounting and consulting firm.

In total, only 18 exploration and appraisal wells were drilled in the UK during the first quarter, marking a 41 per cent drop in total drilling activity compared with the same period last year. UK Oil and Gas, the industry group, is even more pessimistic, forecasting that total drilling could drop 66 per cent this year.

Derek Henderson, senior partner at Deloitte, said: “Unless exploration is at a healthy clip, it risks shortening the life of fields and the overall UK continental shelf, in this case.”

Exploration and appraisal wells are critical to any oil region’s long-term supply prospects. But they are particularly important for the North Sea, where ageing fields’ production is rapidly declining.

The UK and Europe will increasingly have to rely on Russia for natural gas and the Middle East for oil.

The worsening exploration climate could knock 10-15 years off the North Sea’s expected lifespan of 20-30 years, meaning almost half of all its infrastructure could be decommissioned within the next 11 years, UK Oil and Gas estimates.

Instead of satisfying 45 per cent of the UK’s oil and gas needs in 2020, at the current investment pace the North Sea would only be able to meet 12 per cent of its demand.

Oil prices have plummeted from $147 a barrel in July 2008 to about $50 today.

The North Sea’s situation is significantly worse than elsewhere because new discoveries tend to be smaller and rarer and old fields are becoming less productive but more expensive to maintain.

Analysts at Barclays Capital expect spending on global exploration and production to fall by only 12 per cent in 2009.

Companies – and the banks that fund them – are reluctant to explore the North Sea because oil prices at $40 to $50 a barrel make developing a new field, especially one that requires a lot of new infrastructure, a risky, if not foolhardy, venture. The industry forecasts further consolidation but fears it could lose as many as 50,000 of its 400,000 jobs in the next two years.

The fall in exploration activity is so bad that the Department of Energy has had to postpone its offshore licensing round and the Treasury has indicated that it will give companies some tax relief in the Budget later this month.

From 2010, the government is likely to suffer a significant drop in tax revenue because oil companies, together with banks, have in recent years been their most important sources of funding.

SOURCE: FT.com / Companies / Oil & Gas - Crisis hits North Sea oil search (http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/40ed13fa-2794-11de-9b77-00144feabdc0.html)

[Epiphany]

These headlines 'Oil Prices Plummet' are an insult to the intelligence. Oil prices today are simply around what they were in 2006-7.

Historical Crude Oil Prices Table (http://inflationdata.com/inflation/inflation_Rate/Historical_Oil_Prices_Table.asp)

The plummet was from an unsustainable level and oil companies are still making an obscene profit with oil at $40 a barrel. Just less obscene than $140 a barrel.

[T4 Risen]

any more info on the plan from management to cut the CHC equal time roster? and is the workforce still united in industrial action if it is needed? has the date of the 20th of April slipped?
T4

[[email protected]]

Some of the questions that were asked on this forum when First Reserve bought CHC are now being answered it would seem.

IIRC critics said First Reserve were not interested in the whole concept of helicopter ops, simply the revenue it produced and that would certainly appear to be the case now.

Greed, greed and more greed - how many millions per day do these guys have to make to keep themselves happy?

[Tractor_Driver]

Crab,

you are so right.

It's those greedy pension funds trying to make profits again, just to pay off folk who have worked all their lives.

Never mind if they don't get enough, though. The tax payer will bail them out.

Oh.

No.

That only works for the public sector, not for the rest of us.

TD

[Horror box]

Indeed Crab, you have also noticed what we in CHC have, and feared would happen. An owner with zero interest in their company, other than what the numbers say at a given moment in time. Not conducive to happy ops IMO. The best we can hope for now, is that it is as short lived as we all expect, and that they sell off again ASAP, without doing too much irreparable damage.

[T4 Risen]

The rumour was that Scotia were looking to go on strike from the 20th of April if the equal time roster was removed as intended by management in EGPD. Is this still the case or has the problem been resolved?
:confused:
T4

[coning angel]

A little birdie tells me that Aberdeen based pilots are not very happy with the state of affairs. I don't believe it was a case of going on strike from the 20th April, but the pilots did have a meeting last night, the majority of whom would probably vote for strike action if asked. Once again, CHC management have stated that they will implement their new 'howdy-doody' roster from today. This basically means they lose their equal time roster but that's okay too, because management know that it won't affect the pilots stress levels, or be a flight safety issue. Just lots of 'unhappy' pilots going to work for a while. How can that possibly be an issue, as long as they are seen to be productive and available at work? The new roster they are being given doesn't look too much different to what they have been used to up until the present time. (It just maybe that i'm missing something here)

New roster system:-
200 working days required, flexible 'X' working days, meaning you dont know what shift you will be asked to work, earlies or lates, until the evening beforehand. I think that means you will need to be available for the 17-18 hours of the next day so don't you go making any plans, you hear! But the best part is, you actually get to know what days you will be working two weeks in advance. I really do feel so sorry for my ex-husband now....NOT! HA HA.
Lots of love, the bitter and twisted cow!

[heli-man]

Sounds to me like they are trying to p*ss off the staff so they leave of their own accord, hence avoiding the costly redundancy process.

[birklands]

Any truth to the rumour of a potential strike by CHC pilots in Aberdeen?

[coning angel]

You cannot underestimate the power of the internet. Communications travel like the speed of light. Watch CHC squirm. Where once there was greatness, all will become a barren landscape of downsizing and smaller operators doing the same work. This isn't going to apply to the North Sea (Aberdeen) only.
Watch the Southern bases go west too.
The Perenco 139 incident a couple of weeks ago off Great Yarmouth didn't exactly do anything to enhance relations between the two companies.

As to the question posed above?

Wait until the oil companies realise this is to become a reality. Remember the threat of strike action pre 2005 pay rises, and the pay dispute, where, at the 11th hour, the companies had to give in as directed by the oil companies.

I always think it's entertaining for management to attempt to enforce change, not always realising that the bigger picture is, without a doubt, going to have just as negative effect on themselves. No CHC pilots? No CHC management.
Contracts might well change hands, but would any new company coming in to take over present CHC contracts, be interested in taking on the managers who were responsible for the poor performance of the outgoing company? I think not.

What is that oft used North American phrase? Wake up and smell the coffee?

My money is on a summer of discontent, when they're likely to be at their busiest. You can't take a lifestyle roster working 182 days away from the workforce, then enforce upon them a 200 working days per annum, fully flexible roster with duty times unknown until the evening beforehand and only two weeks notice of your days off. Management think that this is the best workable solution. Light the touchpaper and stand well clear.

Pull up a deck chair. Get your donkey jackets out. Light the oil drums. Get those placards made.

Can the last person to leave CHC house, please turn out the lights? Thank You!

[Overt Auk]

I think that Mitchaa has hit the nail on the head.

Bristow managed it about 5 years ago. In their case it was threats of redundancy. Watch the right hand - redundancy, redundancy. O.K. redundancy threat over, aren't we nice managers.

Meanwhile the left hand had stolen the D.B. pension.

Let's hope the CHC guys are a bit more savvy.

O.A.

[Banksman]

So what happen with AW139 at north denes then to upset Perenco?:sad:

[HYDPUMP]

Coning Angel, you seem well informed or are you, as per usual facts seem to slip through the net,
One fact is for sure looks like a CHC BASHER !!! Bad History there somewhere ??

[bladegrabber]

I thought the Perenco 139 upset had been missed on here ?Aircraft shutdown offshore when pilot couldnt pull up the lever thingy between the seats - something to do with someone leaving something in the aircraft whilst it was in the garage being serviced perhaps???Nice mechanic had to put on clean overalls and go offshore to remove said object before pilot flew them all home for tea.Surprisingly Perenco werent too happy and stopped flying with N.Denes aircraft. Not sure if they have plucked up courage and are back with them again???BG

[Hoppit]

One fact is for sure looks like a CHC BASHER !!! Bad History there somewhere ??


Aside the management, and the external consultancy company puppet masters that have recently joined, show me one CHC supporter then, as the Pilots, engineers and ops staff as well as many customers no longer seem keen!

Bad history?? More like Bad present day actually!

[chcoffshore]

Manpower and strike action will always win over penny pinching management.

Sort it out chaps, not good for either side.

:D:D:D:ok:

[Overt Auk]

Quote:


A better move to keep the workforce happy would surely be to honour existing employees their right to the FSP and all new employees a money purchase only option.


That is exactly what happened at Bristow. Several years later, they decided to scrap the DB scheme for the old hands. Surprise, surprise, there was not much support from the newbies when it came to defending the scheme.

O.A.

[chcoffshore]

Did i hear correctly that the unions in CHC Netherlands recently resorted to strike action? What was the outcome of that?



I believe it was the ground crew only, and a new CLA was accepted for 1 year.
The pilots have yet to negotiate.

[Droopystop]

Manpower and strike action will always win over penny pinching management.

I don't think you'll find many miners claiming a win.

A strike will be hugely damaging for the reputation of CHC and its pilots. Lets hope it can be resolved without wasting wood on banners and braziers.

[Talk talk]

Ballot papers for industrial action now out. Hope you guys can hold the line, as for sure everyone else in the oil patch will feel the consequences.
Best of luck

[nightjar1]

Dont think ABZ would take any notice if 'any' base in the SNS decided to take industrial action ? Do you ?
Total waste of time and maybe loss of jobs, IMHO

[Talk talk]

For the management of CHC Scotia to advise the workforce that the Final Salary Pensions are up the spout just as they are holding a ballot for strike action over their equal time roster is hard to comprehend. Either they are not the brightest or are determined to force the issue to the bitter end where everybody, company, CHC pilots and the rest of us in the industry will be losers.

[talklimited]

We need to think very carefully about strike action. Remember what happen to the pilots who took strike action in GOM, and the airline pilots downunder in the late eighties. No winners there.

Oil companies would not hesitate to change companies if required, even if it involves some short term pain in service delivery.

TL

[coning angel]

FSP to be withdrawn from the end of August in CHC. As someone mentioned above, not the best time to be telling the workforce this news. Are management blinkered? Can't they see the bigger picture?

Oil companies may change the service provider but the pilots will, as usual, move to where the work is. It would seem that CHC have absolutely no respect for their pilots. As for the roster issues, a little bird tells me the company are willing to talk to the pilots again and see if something can be sorted out.

[Special 25]

Are you sure this wasn't always a plan to get rid of the Final Salary Pension ??

Tell them you're gonna take away the Equal Time Roster, then announce that the FSP is going as well. Get everyone worked up, then when its all about to hit the fan, suggest that you might be able to give back the equal time roster and everyone feels more agreeable.

Its an old trick wartime doctors used when they needed to take someone's leg off. Tell them they need both legs removed, then once the full horror has had time to bed in, advise that they might get away with just the one, and suddenly things don't seem so bad !

[HYDPUMP]

Surley now this is a case of no repect for the entire CHC workforce who are in FSP, perhaps the ballot should be expanded :ugh:
Letter on the mat with no warning, Classic tactics !!!!!!!

[DOUBLE BOGEY]

Genst (and Ladies) the FSP was removed some 4 years ago. What we have in place is a DBS (Defined Benefit Scheme) based on a notional salary increasing in a controlled fashion each year. This step was taken to try and reduce the risks shouldered by the Company.

I an going to an Industrial Meeting tonight at ABZ and will be wanting to take action over the removal of the DBS. I am sure all my collegues are of the same mind.

What galls me most is the utter stupidity of the management. If they remove the scheme it is not available to them either. They seem adept at putting managers into place who continually commit commercial, industrial and persoal suicide in same miguided notion that they must save money at all costs.

[T4 Risen]

Any info on how CHC scotia pilots are responding to the change in working conditions that seem to be being imposed on them?

Has there been a ballot and what was the result if there was?

T4

[Vertical T/O]

These working conditions are ****. I am exhausted!! Change on the horizon, thank god.

[coning angel]

A little bird tells me that the pilots were balloted on Industrial action and they virtually all said yes. Unfortunately, this has led nowhere, the company appear to be using delaying tactics again and from what I was told, even though the ballot result was last week, no-one has been told if the company were given their 7-day notice period. If so, strike action could start as early as Friday coming. It is without doubt that the management will be trying to string their decision out as long as possible and then this smokescreen (because that's what this is) will clear away and then the 'FSP' will be lost and the employees just content to get their roster back in place.
I only heard this from a 3rd party so don't shoot the messenger.

[slyguy]

I heard a rumour more meetings were going on this week, somebody must know more by now.

do you think any strike would just be up here, or spread around the country as well

[T4 Risen]

Any truth in the rumour that a strike next Saturday is on the horizon? And if this is the case why pick the quietest day of the week to do it?
T4

[Brom]

Any truth in the rumour that a strike next Saturday is on the horizon? And if this is the case why pick the quietest day of the week to do it?

'Cause it's 4th July and we've all been invited to an 'Independence Day' party by some American friends.

[coning angel]

Engineering union are looking at the possibility of being lumped in with the pilots as it appears that their terms and conditions are also about to be eroded.

If people thought the possibility of strike action in Aberdeen was likely, just wait until the pilot workforce of the Southern Bases show their contempt for management soon enough. This will hurt. Watch and see.

[Talk talk]

The way l see it is that James Bothwell has been appointed by First Reserve, the owners of CHC, in order to drive through efficiency savings, specifically from the pilot workforce. Our colleages in the EMS business in the States may be familiar with him, and what little we read about him doesn't bode well. He will want to make his mark in order to justify his appointment and am afraid minor adjustments to working conditions wont, in his eyes, be seen as doing it. My gut feeling is there are tough times ahead, but if the changes he intends to make are not resisted then we could be seeing the gradual clawing back of all the gains made in the past ten years in the helicopter industry. Should he be successful then there is no doubt that these new conditions will rapidly be applied to the pilot workforce in Bristows and Bond. So from the rest of us we wish you guys the very best in resisting these changes

[Impress to inflate]

Well boys and girls, what's the latest on the strike ??

[T4 Risen]

I doubt you will get any info on the strike today as apparently they have all been "invited to a 4th of July independance party by some american friends" !!

I hope they are having a nice time...:ok:

T4

[Pullharder]

Ho Hum....well, James Bothwell sorted out EMS in the States...hmmm, well I think he has to realise we are not americans over here, equally, we have very different working conditions,employment (labor)!! laws etc etc...:confused:
Personally, trying to change the guys and gals T&C's in Aberdeen is crazy, especially as Bristows and Bond's rosters work very well... Why can't our managment make it work? :ugh: Equally, our last pay deal was based on a lifestyle roster working 182 days a year,partly brought in due to fatigue, of never feeling you get a break from work, and people deciding it would be a great idea to taxi out in front of landing 737's etc........:eek: not good....(isn't our motto safety first)??
Another point is, the guys down south never got a lifestyle roster, and for years now have worked 196+ days for no extra pay:=
On top of this, the wonderful management then announced we would be working 200 days per year:mad:
I have never been a militant pilot, and the mood at the southern bases has changed dramatically recently, goodwill is out the window, crap roster etc.. Personally,I have had enough of useless management who cannot run the company properly yet blame the pilots for everything thats wrong...I WILL vote for industrial action, and am prepared to use my savings till the last penny if they think for one minute I will work more days than Aberdeen again for the same pay....
P.H.

[Impress to inflate]

OK OK I get the UK thing but has the new manager tried to change T&C's over the puddle in Norway or do they know they will get a good royal kicking from our Norwegian cousins. ??:ugh::ugh::D:D

[TiPwEiGhT]

All is normal with HS I believe, no grumbles from them last week when I spoke to a couple of them, and they are still hiring.

TiP

[Helioil]

??? Anyone.......??

[bleepup]

Well it's a cost cutting plan by our American owners :mad:to make as much profit as possible by squeezing the life out of the company/staff before its broken up and sold off. Is there anybody actually proud to be a employee of CHC left?:ugh:

[Hoppit]

...make as much profit as possible by squeezing the life out of the company/staff before its broken up and sold off.

I agree and I know that many others do to. CHC has dug a big hole for itself and is busy throwing itself into it.


Is there anybody actually proud to be a employee of CHC left?

Doubt it. Even the longer standing members of staff that you could consider 'company men' have changed their tune.

CHC won't survive another 12 months

[[email protected]]

So, given that CHC are part of the Soteria bid for SARH (preferred bidder to be announced in a couple of months), how are CHC going to populate another 6 SAR flights using such skilled management techniques?

[Hoppit]

I can just see the advert enticing the MOD guys and gals now:

Fancy working in a challenging environment that leaves you exhausted and under appreciated every day?

Then why not consider a position with the once largest helicopter company in the world in the exciting world of Search and Rescue (daylight) or Oil and Gas?

Benefits include: No direct benefit pension
No share incentive scheme
Medical cover from the NHS
No lifestyle roster
Varying terms and conditions daily

Positions are now available all over the UK*

*Terms and conditions and pay differ all over the place

[coning angel]

Hoppit:
One of the funniest posts i've seen in ages, but unfortunately it's probably going to be used in the next CHC recruitment drive. You forgot one thing.

* Free tub of vaseline for every new recruit. *

[coning angel]

Recently, for one reason or another, CHC management have decided that they know best. Just like the person in charge who was heard to say that the Southern bases haven't got the b**ls to take industrial action.
Well, he may just be quite shocked when, on hearing the latest BALPA indicative ballot results for Industrial Action, it would appear he couldn't be more wrong if he tried.

I only just heard this morning but it seems that over 95% of the BALPA members have voted positively for a ballot on industrial action. I really do hope the guys hold out to prove the management wrong and get a positive result.
I wonder if this will affect the BP contract bid out of Humberside?

[Special 25]

Union members have to vote on whether they want an additional ballot on industrial action. Then a 'consultation period', more negotiation, further ballots etc .............

No wonder nothing ever gets bloody agreed !

[pitchlink]

Could not agree more! The management have decided they do not want to talk to us, so why go through all the rigmorole? Lets keep the momentum, inform management of the result if that is what we have to do and go straight for the official ballot for indusrial action. If management then decide thay would like to speak to us, they know where we are.
In the mean time follow the ABZ example; show a unified front, stick together and we WILL prevail!!:ok:

[abzheli]

I heard that CHC have lost another large contract (mersk and maybe another as yet unnamed contract) to Bond as well as the Blackpool contract, some employees saying there is no future in CHC. Would like to hear comments from any CHC employees if any of this is true or not.

[NorthSeaTiger]

Apache ? Denes closing as well ? Doesn't sound good.

NST

[Zaphod1]

Don't know the size of the contracts but I heard Bond are starting work for Maersk & opening a base in Blackpool, as well as opening another base somewhere else (could have been Norwich way).

[roundwego]

Have also heard that Bond are into dirty tricks. Allegedly they have said that anyone at Blackpool who doesn't have a N3 qualification will be made redundant when they are Tupe'd from CHC to Bond when the contract transfers at the end of December. They are trying to scare / poach pilots across before the transfer so they don't have to pick up the CHC Ts & Cs and will end up with a lower wage bill.

Is ABZHELI's post above another one of Bond's dirty tricks to scaremonger in the CHC camp? I suspect ABZHELI could be Bond management.

I hear that some of Bond's existing pilots are getting very uneasy about their own management's grubby tactics.

[chcoffshore]

Apache ? Denes closing as well ?


Have we lost the Apache contract? Is so what will happen to the S92? And is there and confirmation of North Denes closing or being sold?:confused: Maybe thats why the SNS business unit idea was shelved back in March.

[NorthSeaTiger]

Both questions !! Wonder if ABZHELI is trying to stir things ?

NST

[fkelly]

Have also heard that Bond are into dirty tricks

No! surely not? Next you'll be claiming they've won contracts on staffing and experience levels they don't have.....oh, hang on...errr...

[Wizzard]

abzheli
Would like to hear comments from any CHC employees if any of this is true or not.

I bet you bl**dy would!:ugh::ugh::ugh:

[coning angel]

Strike vote to paralyse North Sea
Frank Urquhart

NORTH Sea oil production looks set to be paralysed after pilots employed by one of the industry’s two major helicopter operators voted overwhelmingly to take strike action in their battle for pay parity with airline pilots.

Strike action by the crews of CHC Helicopters could begin next month and there were fears last night that the dispute could result in platform shutdowns and millions of pounds in lost production.

CHC Scotia provides helicopters to service at least half the oil and gas installations in the North Sea, ferrying workers employed by four of the industry’s biggest operators, BP, TotalElfFina, ExxonMobil and Talisman.

Last night, as industry leaders appealed to both sides to get round the negotiating table, oil companies were desperately drawing up contingency plans to deal with a potential all-out strike by the Scotia crews.

The vote in favour of strike action was announced by John Moore, the principal negotiator of the British Airline Pilots’ Association, which represents more than three-quarters of the 200 helicopter pilots employed by Scotia in Aberdeen, Norwich, Humberside and Blackpool.

Moore said 78.4 per cent of the 138 pilots who had taken part in the ballot had voted in favour of strike action and said: "Under employment legislation, BALPA must give CHC Scotia seven days’ notice of strike action. CHC Scotia pilots taking part in strike action would continue to provide offshore emergency cover.

"The strong ballot result shows that our members are not willing to stand by and watch a generation of young, highly-skilled helicopter pilots haemorrhage away into the fixed-wing sector."

A spokesman for CHC Scotia claimed the ballot result meant that only some 52 per cent of the company’s total pilot workforce had authorised a withdrawal of services.

He continued: "CHC Scotia is very disappointed at the result of the ballot. It is inevitable that any forthcoming industrial action will have a disruptive impact on our operations and the service we provide to clients. We have contingency measures in hand to try to minimise the impact of any industrial action on the offshore workforce."

The company, he said, was willing to use independent mediation to achieve a resolution and still hoped the dispute could be settled "without irreparable damage being done to the company".

He claimed the offer which tabled by the company was "extremely generous" and would have seen the salary of a captain increase by £23,000 and a co-pilot’s salary by approximately £8,000. North Sea pilots with ten years’ experience currently earn around £51,000 per year. Two months ago, pilots employed by North Sea rivals, Bristow Helicopters, voted in favour of a similar pay deal.

John Wils , a director of the UK Offshore Operators’ Association, said: " Our immediate concern in the event of any industrial action would be for inconvenience to our workforce or disruption to our activities offshore.

"We hope that in the time that is available that both sides will continue to talk so that they can find a resolution to this problem."


Look at this from 2001. They didn't strike but got what they wanted in the end. Only 74% backing from the members too. So how come with a very high majority vote, 90%+, BALPA won't push for industrial action for the southern north sea this time? Are balpa becoming weak?

[SafetyCase]

What is that you try to accomplish? Rustle up support for industrial action within CHC UK and at the same time underrate BALPA? With news 8 years old? In my humble opinion this new thread's content is already covered here:

http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/362580-chc-uk-redundancies-strike-action-fsp.html

By the way, are you working for CHC? I didn't think so...

[Zaphod1]

In my experience BALPA never PUSH for industrial action - they take instructions from their membership after appraising them of the state of play at the time, the options open to them, and the potential consequences of any particular route.

If it is to be strike action then it is the workforce that dictates that, not BALPA.

[HYDPUMP]

Conig Angel, must be the ex wife of a Pilot and wants increase maintenance payments or just bored on a Sunday :ugh::ugh:

[agent 99]

Safetycase do you work for chc ? so quick to jump?...

[SafetyCase]

No, I don't work for CHC

[detgnome]

A trawl for voluntary redundancies may or may not have begun - and no, I don't have any more info.

[The Governor]

Detgnome...

You don't actually have any info. May or may not pretty much covers most outcomes.

[chcoffshore]

Good answer:ok:

[serf]

So, any vacancies in Abz any time soon?

[chcoffshore]

That will be 15 pilots:mad: and 10 engineers:{

Due to loss of contracts!

[DOUBLE BOGEY]

MICHAA

You cannot run a redundancy programme without first offering a voluntary package. (In the UK at least)

I work for CHC and there has been no official announcement made.

At this stage it is all rumour and speculation. Clearly numbers have been discussed as part of contingency planning up at the puzzle palace but until an official notification is released I think it is safe to say that at this moment in time there is no redundancy programme at CHC UK.

DB

[chcoffshore]

I work for CHC and there has been no official announcement made.




Check the intranet i think you will find they have.

[coning angel]

Has anyone recently viewed the CHC website? With the threat of redundancies up in ABZ, the phrase 'It's a big world, start packing' Appears to be quite apt. :D

[unstable load]

Sorry to hear that the North Sea guys might also get this crap. Quite a few Global Ops crew are at home on a 3 month unpaid layoff pending posting or retrenchment depending on circumstances.

It seems to be a cost cutting move where they get to back you into a corner by forcing you to look for work while you are "still employed" by them meaning when you do find a means of income you automatically have to resign thus saving them the expense of a redundancy package of some sort.

[[email protected]]

The success of the SARH transition will depend on good management and partnership between the contractor and the military manning - doesn't sound like CHC are up to that job:(

[pumaboy]

Is their such a thing as good management!!!!!

[Bondu121]

Not in CHC :mad:

[mollydog349]

Bristow are crying out for 225 engineers in Oz if anyone is packing up in ABZ:D

[AS332L1]

I would be interested please pm with details?

[mollydog349]

Contact Eng Manager at BHA Australia think is [email protected]

[chcoffshore]

I heard a rumour that CHC has only 7% of the available contracts in the North Sea.

Not sure if the % is correct but i believe you can add the loss of the Apache forties contract to these figures:eek::\

[trex450]

I heard the union has been total crap and all redunduncies are to be made off of one type and not spread across the company. So much for last in last out, you might lose you job after ten years service before someone of just one years service simply because of the mark aircraft you are flying

[chcoffshore]

Disgusting isn't! Thanks Scott:ugh:

[Wizzard]

Trex 450I heard the union has been total crap and all redunduncies are to be made off of one type and not spread across the company. So much for last in last out, you might lose you job after ten years service before someone of just one years service simply because of the mark aircraft you are flying

Spot on! Very good investigative work. Er... NO:=

Latest news - BALPA website - is no redundencies, compulsary or otherwise.:ok:

Well done the union:D

[chcoffshore]

Thanks for the info:ok:

[detgnome]

I don't think you can definitely say that CHC have lost the Apache contract - all still rumour and conjecture...

[chcoffshore]

Ok well we will have to wait and see. Hopefully we don't loose it but the customer wants a S92 (that's not in Helione for 6 weeks) not a L or L2.

[Wizzard]

chcoffshore, give us a clue as I've lost my code-book?:bored:

[chcoffshore]

332 L1 & L2 Super Puma

[NorthSeaTiger]

When is the Apache decision due ? If they lose that I'd imagine there would definatley be redundancies.

NST

[keys]

If bond get the work they will do the same as they have done at Blackpool. If you go across under TUPE you will be redundant but if you signed away all your rights with this compromise agreement they will give you 10k and reduce your wages by 20%. TAKE IT OR :mad: OFF.

[detgnome]

Well at least we retained the Apache contract - and a second S92 I hear!

[rag it]

have heard the same today about the Apache contract and another S92, good news:ok: